Physical Therapist Aides

social interests patient treatment equipment customer clean area personal service medical equipment record notes

Physical Therapist Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Aide (PTA), PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician), Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech)

What they do:
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
On the job, you would:
  • Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
  • Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
  • Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.

Knowledge

Business

  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Health

  • therapy and counseling

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Social

  • looking for ways to help people
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Concern for Others
  • Cooperation
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Attention to Detail
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software

  • Epic Systems Hot Technology
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Electronic mail software

  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Average
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about physical therapist aides.